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Prepared mustard is a basic condiment sold in both glass and plastic jars, depending on the brand. It's also sold in plastic squeeze bottles for convenience, with single-serving packets available throughout the food service industry. Made with vinegar, ground mustard seeds and other spices, mustard has a long shelf life. The vinegar used in its preparation is an important element in that lengthy shelf life. Often mustard is fine to eat after it's expired, but sometimes it isn't. There are a few factors to consider.

Never Used, Unopened

In the United States, the bright yellow, mild flavored mustard tends to be the most widely used. When stored unopened on a shelf, not in extreme heat or cold, this mustard can last one to two years past the date on the label or bottle, depending on whether that date refers to when it is best used by or its expiration. Dijon mustard varieties can last longer because they have a bit more bite to them, with a higher proportion of vinegar and other spices than the milder yellow mustard has. These mustard types can last up to three years.

Opened and Refrigerated

Once a jar or bottle of mustard has been opened, its useful life decreases because it is no longer sealed against environmental contaminates. However, with the vinegar content, even opened mustard can last up to a year past its date, as long as it's kept in the refrigerator and you close it properly after each use. If the mustard is used infrequently, a little bit of its liquid may separate from sitting undisturbed for long periods. Stirring or shaking before use fixes that easily.

Nice and Clean

To make sure that mustard lasts as long as it should, use correct food-handling techniques. Don't introduce crumbs into a jar of mustard while making sandwiches. Those crumbs of bread, cheese or meat could mold and spoil the whole jar of mustard. Wipe the neck of the jar and the top to prevent the mustard from clumping and drying as the vinegar – and its protection – dissipates, leaving that dried mustard vulnerable to spoiling, then contaminating the whole jar or bottle.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line on how far past the expiration date mustard can be considered safe to use lies in its appearance and smell. If a lot of the liquid has separated, leaving the ground mustard seeds and other spices in a dry clump, or it has an off odor, the best bet is to throw it out. If it looks and smells fine, you can probably use it without concern.

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About the Author

Sharon Secor began writing professionally in 1999, while attending Empire State University. Secor specializes primarily in personal finance and economics, and writes on a broad range of subjects. She is published in numerous online and print publications, including Freedom's Phoenix, the ObscentiyCrimes and the American Chronicle.